Schlufhöhle

The Schlufhöhle is a small cave on the eastern slope of Kugelstein hill in the Steiermark region of Austria. It lies north of the larger Kugelsteinhöhle III and about 27 metres below the Efeuhöhle, close to the border between Deutschfeistritz and Frohnleiten. The entrance opens in a narrow rock ledge, giving little hint of the passages inside. Though only about six metres long, the cave has two low side passages. The western branch ends after roughly three metres, while the north-western one becomes impassable after about 2.7 metres. Much of the floor is covered with cave clay, but no detailed study of the sediments has yet been made. Visitors find a modest cavity with damp walls and a clay-covered floor. The space is too tight for anything but careful crawling, and daylight fades quickly beyond the entrance. The surrounding woodland on Kugelstein offers quiet walks, but the real interest lies in the cave’s narrow corridors and unexplored floor.